Our hearts are heavy and empathetic for the many who tragically lost friends and loved ones in Surfside on June 24th. In the wake of the collapse, our offices have fielded calls from HOAs and others understandably concerned about the structural safety of their own buildings. While no one is yet certain what caused the tower to collapse, it’s important to keep things in perspective. First, the sudden and catastrophic structural collapse of a completed and occupied building in the United States is extremely rare. Collapse of balconies, portions of roofs, and other elements does sometimes occur, but the cause is almost always traced to a significant overload, severe corrosion, or other unusual and preventable condition. Second, structural problems usually exhibit early warning signs such as abnormal sagging, cracking, settlement, or leaning that can be evaluated and mitigated before it progresses. U.S. Building codes and regulations have been developed and refined over decades of experience and establish universal requirements to reliably safeguard life, health, and property. Architects, engineers, building officials, inspectors, and construction professionals apply those code requirements and work together as a team during the design and construction process. The result is a finished building that is safe and functional.
TANAGER ECHO MULTI-FAMILY
Construction of Tanager Echo, a 295-unit multi-family development by Howard Hughes Corporation in Downtown Summerlin, Las Vegas is currently underway. The development features two 5 and 6 story buildings wrapped around a 455-space parking garage. Units are a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units with nine-foot ceilings, walk-in closets and premium finishes. A top-floor lounge includes a catering kitchen, a golf simulator, and a dog park. “The site is very tight and complex,” said Tina Dias, PE, SE, Wright’s principal-in-charge for the project. “Careful coordination and close collaboration among all members of the design and construction team was a must.” Perlman Architects is the project’s architect and R&O Construction is the construction manager. Wright Engineers is the project’s structural engineer. Construction is expected to be complete early 2023.
WRIGHT ENGINEERS OPENS DALLAS OFFICE
Wright Engineers is pleased to announce the opening of its new Texas location in the heart of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area. “It’s been over a decade since Wright Engineers added a new office location,” said CEO Brent Wright. “We’ve been providing structural engineering services for projects in Texas since 1998, so it’s exciting to now have a presence on the ground.” Wright’s office is located in Irving, the vibrant, fast-growing suburb between Dallas and Fort Worth and convenient to the DFW Airport.
cONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PRICING DATA
The chart represents the most recently published data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not shown is the 40% decline in lumber prices in June.